Another wake up in the early morning. Just as the sun got up. I packed my things quickly and headed outside. Put everything on the cart, then headed to the city center. Around halfway thru I met another group of hunters, clearly heading to hunt rats. Mbeki and Nobuo were there. We exchanged quick greetings and went our separate ways.

The device was occupied, so I had to wait a bit to get my rations. This time I didn't even have to ask about paying the tax later. They just told me to bring it after I'm done hunting. I got everything I wanted and departed.

On my way to the cave, I met a few hunting groups, but we kept our distance from each other. There were also a few groups of goblins, but they died quickly. After arriving I did the usual. Got rid of guards, parked the cart, and made some noise. Then the slaughter happened. Yesterday's upgrades made it a bit easier, but the difference wasn't so big. This time I had no audience.

I packed the crystals, had a bit of a lunch break, and returned to the city. Pade the tax, and sold the score for a nice 74800 points. I bought 20 upgrades of strength for 41 050 points. This left me with 39 254. I bought another pudao because the one I was using got pretty damaged. The handle was in a good state, but the blade not. I was afraid it might break. I also bought some food and a beer.

I was about to eat somewhere on the side, but Will showed up.

- Hey Peter.

- Sup Will?

- Just wanted to ask you one thing. Is it true that you are poking goblin horde with a stick?

I smiled a bit.

- I guess.

- Are you nuts?! What's wrong with you?

- Well that was not one of my best ideas, but it's working.

- What if it didn't work? You would get killed, just as several other people in the woods. You cant do such things.

- I need to do such things.

- At least next time give people a warning.

- If I did that, there would be some guys opposing my plans, and trying to stop me, or even worse. Trying to join me. I needed those crystals. I still need them.

He shook his head.

- What the heck is this place doing with people.

- Giving them opportunities to show who they really are. I'm a selfish bastard. But I do care for my friends.

- And don't care about everybody else.

- Yeah. Those people watched me getting beaten up several times. Never gave a shit about me, but instead, several times tried to steal from me, or also beat me up. Fuck them.

- Fine, fine, fine. Every man for himself.

- No. Not like that. I'm just not supporting parasites.

- I disagree, but I doubt you care.

- I actually do, but now is not the time to have a philosophical dispute.

- What's the plan?

- To farm. Farm as much as I can.

- Then I have bad news. Some people encouraged by your endeavors, want to explore goblin cave. So your spot might be taken from you.

- Fuck.

- Are you gonna fight for it? Or involve Wuxia?

- No. That's out of the question. I told Blue I'm taking a break from Wuxia, and he respected my decision. I'll tell you more. I think he doesn't want me among the ranks, because it was over a month, and he didn't try to contact me.

- So, what are you gonna do?

- I don't know?

- By the way, what's in that cave? More goblins?

- Dunno. I just make some noise and kill what comes out. I never tried to explore it.

- Maybe you should? How about we try tomorrow?

- I will think about it. We would need some light. Maybe torches, or candles? Can we buy a lantern in the device?

- I have no idea. But torches and candles for sure. Too bad you can't buy a lighter.

- What about fire steel?

- Never tried. We could take a torch and light it from the bonfire - Will was getting clearly excited.

His voice and eyes betrayed him.

- You have enough points, to get some solid equipment? I can buy the torches.

- Yeah. I still have some left after that wolf nightmare.

I just laughed.

- You should really invest in your constitution.

- I don't have that. Did you forget? I only have a body to upgrade, and I'm putting a lot of points in it.

- Oh, yeah. Right. I forgot it is different.

- Good you have me to remind you. I feel almost irreplaceable. Where could you find a friend such as myself, huh?

- Yeah, yeah Will.

He smiled at me.

- See you tomorrow Peter.

- Yeah. See you.

I finally ate, and then headed back home. I put my equipment inside and went to bed, but knocking on the door forced me to get out.

- Who's there?

- Hatta.

I opened the door for him.

- Come on in.

I moved inside and sat at the edge of my bed. He also entered, closing the door behind. Since shutters on windows were closed, there was pretty dark inside. We only could see layouts of our faces.

- I need to know what were you doing with Blood Brother's members - he said.

He was clearly nervous.

- For fucks sake, Hatta... I told you, I need to save my friend.

- I know he wants to recruit you.

- Do you have spies in Blood Brothers now?

- No. But I observed both of you. He invited you to his place. He wants to recruit you. Did you already agree?

- No. He does want to recruit me, but I have no intentions of joining them. I just need to figure out how I can save my friend, and he might lead me to it. At first, I went with him, just so they wouldn't interrupt my hunt. Something happened in the forest, and Blood Brothers could be after me. Then he showed up.

- You killed two people. Ignacio and Pierre. I already know. Many people know. They deserved it.

- Maybe, maybe not. I'm not a judge to decide that. I'm not gonna say it was justified or not. I killed them because I hated those guys. They made my life hell for quite a bit of time.

- Not only yours.

- Anyway. Stop worrying about me, and just observe Wuxia for now. I'm assuring you, that I'm not gonna join Blood Brothers. But, if we are lucky, I might find out if Mark was behind the poison. Just let me do my thing. Ok?

He took a deep breath.

- Fine, but inform me if you find something. And If you are lying...

- Oh come on! Cut your bullshit Hatta. Besides that, I'm probably stronger than you.

- I just wanted to make things clear.

- Look... We are in this together, ok? It's not only you who care...

- I'm just...

- It's fine. I get it. We don't really know each other that well. You feel surrounded by enemies. But do you think I don't? It's the same with me. We either stick together and maybe, maybe succeed. Or fuck over each other, and die. It's not gonna be tomorrow, It won't be next week either, but we will get them. All of them.

He answered with a nod at first, then also added:

- Yes. We will. I'm sorry...

- Yeah, yeah. Go back now. I need to sleep.

- One more thing...

- What?

- Did you really fight the whole horde by yourself?

- Goblins? Yeah. If you wanted to tell me how dumb it was, then get in line. There is plenty of others, and some already did tell me that.

- No. I was just curious. Some people were talking it's a lie. And some are actually preparing to go into the cave. Since you showed them it's possible, they also want to try.

- I heard that too. It was a good hunting spot.historical

- Tomorrow you will have a company there.

- Already?

- Yes.

I sighed. Another good hunting spot was taken from me. Many thoughts went to my mind at that moment. I wondered if I should just give up, and go back to hunting wolves, or defend my spot. Oe even maybe took a short break and find out what others will discover in that cave.

- Peter?

- Oh, sorry. I spaced out.

- You thinking about the cave? Did you go inside? Is there something you want to keep for yourself?

- I have no idea what's inside. I never went there. Maybe I can defeat a horde of goblins by myself, but it takes a ton of energy, and inside might be even more of them.

- Yeah. Maybe then it's better to let others check it for you?

- Maybe. But that's a conversation for another day. I really need to go to bed. I'm exhausted.

- Fine. Good night Peter.

- Yeah.

He left and closed the door behind. I went to bed, but it took me a bit to actually fell asleep. Too many thoughts were in my head.

Day ended with 34 731 points on my account.